Dance Design

Last updated

Dance Design
Sire Sadler's Wells
Grandsire Northern Dancer
DamElegance In Design
Damsire Habitat
Sex Mare
Foaled18 February 1993 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
Breeder Moyglare Stud
OwnerMoyglare Stud
Padua Stables
Trainer Dermot Weld
D. Wayne Lukas
Record19: 7-3-3
Major wins
Debutante Stakes (1995)
Pretty Polly Stakes (1996, 1997)
Irish Oaks (1996)
Mooresbridge Stakes (1996)
Tattersalls Gold Cup (1996)
Honours
Dance Design Stakes at the Curragh

Dance Design (foaled 18 February 1993) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She competed in five different countries and won seven times from nineteen starts in a track career which lasted from August 1995 to November 1998.

Contents

She showed very promising form as a two-year-old when she won her first two races including the Debutante Stakes and finished fourth in both the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year, she was placed in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes before winning the Pretty Polly Stakes and then recording her biggest success in the Irish Oaks. As a four-year-old she won the Mooresbridge Stakes, Tattersalls Gold Cup and a second Pretty Polly but was beaten in her four subsequent races that year. In 1997, she raced in the United States, but made no impact.

After her retirement from racing, she became a broodmare and produced several minor winners.

Background

Dance Design was a bay mare bred in Ireland by her owner, Walter Haefner's Moyglare Stud. She was sent into training with Dermot Weld at the Curragh in County Kildare and was ridden in most of her races by Mick Kinane.

She was from the seventh crop of foals sired by Sadler's Wells, who won the Irish 2000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes in 1984 went on to be the Champion sire on fourteen occasions. [2] Dance Designs dam Elegance In Design showed good form over sprint distances, winning a Listed race over six furlongs at Phoenix Park Racecourse as a three-year-old in 1989. [3] She was a distant, female-line descendant of Star of Naples, a full-sister to Signorinetta. [4]

Racing career

1995: two-year-old season

Dance Design began her track career in a seven furlong maiden race at Galway Races on 1 August, in which she started the 4/7 favourite and won by two and a half lengths from the Jim Bolger-trained Park Petard. [5] At the end of the month she was stepped up in class for the Listed Debutante Stakes over the same distance at Leopardstown Racecourse and won again, beating Priory Belle by one and a half lengths at odds of 4/6. [6] The filly was moved into Group 1 class for her two remaining races of 1995 and ran well in defeat on both occasions. On 10 September, she looked somewhat unlucky when finishing fourth behind Priory Belle in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, while at Longchamp Racecourse on 1 October, she finished fourth behind Miss Tahiti, Shake The Yoke and Solar Crystal in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

1996: three-year-old season

On her first appearance as a three-year-old Dance Design started 5/1 third favourite for the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on 25 May and finished second to the British-trained Matiya. On 19 June, she was sent to England to contest the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and led for most of the way before being overtaken in the final furlong and finishing third to Shake The Yoke and Last Second. Ten days after her defeat at Ascot, the filly was stepped up in distance for the Group 2 Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs at the Curragh and started favourite ahead of the hitherto undefeated Theano and the British challenger Obsessive (third in the Musidora Stakes). After racing in third place she went to the front two furlongs from the finish and went clear of her rival to win "comfortably" by one and a half lengths from Zafzala. [7]

Dance Design was moved up again in distance when she was one of six fillies to contest the Irish Oaks over one and a half miles at the Curragh on 14 July and started the 9/2 second favourite behind Lady Carla who had won The Oaks by nine lengths. The other four runners were Shamadara (Prix de Malleret), Key Change, Tout A Coup (Cheshire Oaks), and French Ballerina (later to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle). Dance Design was retrained in the early stages and turned into the straight in fourth place behind Lady Carla, Key Change and Shamadara. Shamadara overtook the favourite in the last quarter mile, but was soon joined by Dance Design who gained the advantage inside the final furlong. The French filly rallied strongly and appeared to regain the lead, but Dance Design came back again in the final strides and won by short head. [8] After the race, Weld commented "She will have a nice break before the autumn", Weld said. "She will probably run in the Prix Vermeille, and could stay in training next year". [9]

After a two-month break, Dance Design returned for the Irish Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown in which she was matched against older horses and male opposition. She led for most of the way, but was overtaken in the final furlong and beaten a length and a half by the four-year-old filly Timarida.

1997: four-year-old season

Dance Design's third campaign began in the Listed Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on 3 May when she was ridden for the first and only time by Pat Shanahan. Carrying top weight of 130 pounds she started odds-on favourite and on by a short head from Raiyoun with a gap of ten lengths back to Tout A Coup in third. [10] Three weeks later, over the same course and distance, the filly faced stronger opposition in the Group 2 Tattersalls Gold Cup but her task was made considerably easier when the favourite Dr Massini refused to race. She won by three lengths from the Irish St Leger winner Oscar Schindler with Taipan three lengths further back in third. [11]

On 28 June, Dance Design started 4/9 favourite as she attempted to repeat her 1996 success in the Pretty Polly Stakes. She led from the start, accelerated away from her six rivals in the last quarter mile and won by two and a half lengths in "impressive" style despite being eased down by Kinane in the final strides. [12] She was then sent to Germany for the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen over 2000 metres at Munich on 3 August but after leading for most of the way she was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten half a length by the locally trained five-year-old Oxalagu. Three weeks later, she made her North American debut in the Beverly D. Stakes over nine and a half furlongs at Arlington Park. She was made favourite but as in Germany she faded in the closing stages after setting the early pace and finished third behind Memories of Silver and Maxzene.

Dance Design raced in California in the late autumn but failed to reproduce her best form in two starts. home last of the eleven runners in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Hollywood Park Racetrack six days later.

In December 1997, Dance Design was put up for sale at Tattersalls and was bought for 2.5 million guineas by the Florida-based Padua Stables. [13] The price was a record for a filly sold at auction in Europe. [14] She was relocated permanently to the United States, where she was trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

1998: five-year-old season

As a five-year-old, Dance Design did not reappear until the autumn and then made little impression in three races. She finished last of seven in the Grade II Turfway Breeders' Cup Stakes at Turfway Park on 26 September and then finished third in an ungraded Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland in October. She ended her racing career on 7 November at Churchill Downs, when she ran unplaced in the Grade III Cardinal Handicap. [15]

Honours

Dance Design is honoured in the name the Dance Design Stakes a race for fillies run at the Curagh which was founded in 2005.

Breeding record

At the end of her racing career Dance Design returned to Europe and became a broodmare for her new owner Martyn Arbib. She produced at least six foals and four winners between 2000 and 2005:

Pedigree

Pedigree of Dance Design (IRE), bay mare, 1993 [1]
Sire
Sadler's Wells (USA)
1981
Northern Dancer (CAN)
1961
Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Fairy Bridge (USA)
1975 
Bold Reason Hail To Reason
Lalun
Special Forli
Thong
Dam
Elegance in Design (IRE)
1986
Habitat (USA)
1966 
Sir Gaylord Turn-To
Somethingroyal
Little HutOccupy
Savage Beauty
Areola (GB)
1968
Kythnos Nearula
Capital Issue
Alive Alivo Never Say Die
Fluorescent (Family: 23-a) [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izzi Top</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Izzi Top is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from October 2010 until October 2012 she ran twelve times and won six races. As four-year-old in 2012 she won two Group One races- the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and the Prix Jean Romanet in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minding (horse)</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Minding is a champion Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2016 European Horse of the Year after winning the Epsom Oaks, 1000 Guineas, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Woodstream was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1981 until June 1982, she won four of her six races and finished second one. As a two-year-old she was rated the best filly of her age in Ireland after being unbeaten in four starts. After winning two minor races she was awarded the Moyglare Stud Stakes on the disqualification of Sweet Side and then traveled to England to win the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she finished second in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but was retired after running poorly in the Coronation Stakes. She had some success as a broodmare, although she produced no major winners.

Sunspangled was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July 1998 until September 1999, she won twice and finished second twice in ten starts. As a two-year-old, she won on her debut but was beaten in her next two races before recording her most important victory in the Group One Fillies' Mile at Ascot Racecourse. In the following year, she was campaigned exclusively in Group One events and failed to win, although she did finish second in the Irish Oaks. She has made little impact as a broodmare.

Saoire is a Welsh-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1000 Guineas in 2005. After being sold cheaply as a foal she was eventually sent into training with Frances Crowley in Ireland. In four races as a two-year-old in 2004 she showed very promising form, winning a maiden race and finishing placed in both the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the C L Weld Park Stakes. In the following spring she finished sixth in the 1000 Guineas before recording her biggest victory in the Irish equivalent three weeks later. Her victory made her the first Irish Classic Race winner to be trained by a woman. She was well beaten in three subsequent races and was retired from racing at the end of the year.

Nightime is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2006. After finishing unplaced in her only race as a juvenile she won a maiden race on her debut as a three-year-old and then recorded an emphatic six-length victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas. She failed to reproduce her form in two subsequent races and was retired in 2007. After her retirement from racing she had success as a broodmare, notably as the dam of Ghaiyyath..

Arctique Royale was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she made only two appearances, winning a maiden race at the Curragh on her debut and then taking the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the same track. She was beaten on her first run of 1982 but then recorded her biggest win in the Irish 1000 Guineas. She was beaten in her last four races and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She had considerable success as a broodmare.

Dark Lomond was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed promise when finishing second on her only run as a juvenile in 1987 and developed into a high-class middle-distance performer and stayer in the following year. She won the Phoenix Oaks Trial and the Pretty Polly Stakes in June 1988 and returned in October to record her biggest victory in the Irish St Leger. After her racing career ended she became a broodmare and had some success as a dam of winners.

Rebelline was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She won six of her eleven races in a racing career which lasted from October 2000 until May 2002. As a juvenile she won on her debut and then finished second to Vinnie Roe in the Eyrefield Stakes. In the following year she won the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial and the Pretty Polly Stakes as well as finishing third in the Prix de l'Opéra. She reached her peak as a four-year-old in 2002 when she was undefeated in three starts, taking the Gladness Stakes, Mooresbridge Stakes and Tattersalls Gold Cup. After her retirement from racing she had considerable success as a dam of winners.

Flamenco Wave was an American-bred, Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1988, she won a maiden race on her debut and then recorded her biggest victory when taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. She did not run again as a juvenile and finished last in both her races in 1989. After her retirement from racing, she became an outstanding broodmare, producing Starborough, Aristotle and Ballingarry, and being the female-line ancestor of St Nicholas Abbey and Charming Thought. She died in 2003 at the age of 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bianca Nera</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Bianca Nera was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed her best form as a two-year-old in 1996 when she won the first three of her four races including the Lowther Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She was retired from racing after two disappointing runs in the spring of 1997. As a broodmare she produced several minor winners including the dam of the multiple Group 1 winner Postponed.

Termagant is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she was one of the best fillies of her generation in Ireland, winning both of her races including the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. She failed to win again and ran only four more times over the next two years before being retired from racing.

Quarter Moon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2001 she showed considerable promise, taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on the second of her two starts. In the following year she failed to win but showed top class form to finish second in four Group 1 races: the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau Stakes. After retiring from racing at the end of the year she became a successful broodmare whose foals have included the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies.

Chelsea Rose is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a track career which lasted from June 2004 until September 2006 she raced in four different countries and won five races over distances ranging from six furlongs to one and a half miles. She showed very promising form as a juvenile in 2004 when she won two of her three races including the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. In the following year she failed in the Irish Oaks, her principal objective but recorded victories in the Silver Stakes, Ballyroan Stakes and Dance Design Stakes. As a four-year-old in 2006 she failed to win a race but finished second in the Glencairn Stakes, Pretty Polly Stakes and Royal Whip Stakes. After her retirement from racing she became a successful broodmare.

Preseli is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best two-year-olds in Ireland in 1999 when she was undefeated in three races including the Debutante Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. In the following spring she took her winning streak to four when she won the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial but was beaten in her next three races that year, producing her best subsequent effort when narrowly beaten in the Pretty Polly Stakes. In 2001 she raced in North America, but failed to reproduce her European form. As a broodmare she has produced several minor winners.

Definite Article was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1994 he won a maiden race on his debut and then won the Group 1 National Stakes on his second and final start of the year. In the following year he won the Silver Stakes and was narrowly beaten in a strongly contested edition of the Irish Derby. As a four-year-old he added victories in the Mooresbridge Stakes and the Tattersalls Gold Cup. After being retired from racing at the end of the 1996 he became a successful breeding stallion, enjoying particular success as a sire of National Hunt horses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magical (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Magical is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over middle distances and was rated in the top twenty racehorses in the world in 2018 and 2019. She showed considerable ability as a juvenile in 2017, winning the Debutante Stakes and finishing second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes as well as running fourth in both the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she won the Kilboy Estate Stakes but did not produce her best form until autumn when she took the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and was narrowly beaten in the Breeders' Cup Turf. In 2019 she won the Alleged Stakes, Mooresbridge Stakes, Tattersalls Gold Cup, Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes as well as finishing second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Eclipse Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks. As a five-year-old she was as good as ever, winning the Pretty Polly Stakes and recording repeat victories in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Irish Champion Stakes as well as being placed in the International Stakes, Champion Stakes, Breeders' Cup Turf and Hong Kong Cup.

Promising Lead is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She did not race until she was three years old in 2007 when she won a maiden race on her debut and went on to win the Upavon Fillies' Stakes before being narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opéra. In the following year she won the Middleton Stakes and the Pretty Polly Stakes on her only two starts. As a broodmare she produced several minor winners.

Nezwaah is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a two-year-old she showed promising form as a three-year-old when she won three races including the Listed Hoppings Stakes. She reached her peak in the first half of the 2017 season when she won the Rothesay Stakes before recording her biggest victory in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes. She raced in five countries, namely England, Ireland, France, Canada and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shale (horse)</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Shale is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2020 she made steady progress, winning a minor race on her second start and going on to take the Silver Flash Stakes and finish second in the Debutante Stakes before winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dance Design pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  3. "Elegance In Design – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  4. 1 2 "A-La-Grecque – Family 23-a". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  5. "McDonogh Feeds EBF Fillies Maiden result". Racing Post. 1 August 1995.
  6. "Debutante Stakes result". Racing Post. 26 August 1995.
  7. "Pretty Polly Stakes result". Racing Post. 29 June 1996.
  8. "Irish Oaks result". Racing Post. 14 July 1996.
  9. Greg Wood (15 July 1996). "Racing: Carla's failure stuns Cecil". The Independent .
  10. "Mooresbridge Stakes result". Racing Post. 3 May 1997.
  11. "Tattersalls Gold Cup result". Racing Post. 25 May 1997.
  12. "Pretty Polly takes result". Racing Post. 28 June 1997.
  13. "Tattersalls sale December 1997". Racing Post .[ dead link ]
  14. Brian O'Connor (5 December 1997). "Dance Design will remain in training". Irish Times .
  15. "Dance Design – Profile". Equibase.
  16. "Sindy – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  17. "Science Academy – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  18. "Salsa Steps – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.